In a fitting finale, Mark Newnham has farewelled Sydney racing as a winner. The popular trainer, who leaves Australia next month to take up an opportunity in Hong Kong, saddled up his final Sydney runner, Lavish Empire, at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and the horse duly saluted. Making the occasion even… Read More »
One of Australia’s most talented three-year-olds is bound for Hong Kong with managing owner Suman Hedge on Wednesday confirming the sale of Group 3 winner and two-time Group 1 runner-up Elliptical. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt has been the subject of attractive offers since last spring, which only intensified… Read More »
The Victoria Racing Club has announced it will present the Dean Holland Trophy to the winning rider of the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. Holland took out this year’s Newmarket Handicap on the James Cummings-trained Godolphin galloper In Secret as the replacement for Jamie Kah who was injured earlier in the day following a fall. In post-race… Read More »
Albury trainer Mitchell Beer will saddle his first Group 1 runner in his own name when Mnementh runs in The Goodwood at Morphettville. When training in partnership with Max Hinton at Mornington the pair took Jacqui’s Joy across to Morphettville for the 2016 Australasian Oaks (2000m), only to finish down the track. A runner… Read More »
When it comes to attractively-weighted runners in this Saturday’s The Goodwood at Morphettville, not many can match Zoutori. The Mathew Ellerton-trained gelding is one of a select band of horses to have won Australia’s premier sprint handicap – the Newmarket Handicap – under topweight, but will carry just 54.5kg in… Read More »
The Patrick Payne-prepared Dunkel has brought up a debut Group One success for hoop Billy Egan. His riding record goes back as far as 2005 but jockey Billy Egan has finally got his first Group One trophy on the mantlepiece. Teaming up with regular trainer Patrick Payne, Egan timed his run… Read More »
A failed stint in the broodmare barn has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the John Thompson-trained More Prophets after she landed her most significant win in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic at Scone. A Listed winner of the 2021 Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong, More Prophets… Read More »
Lunar Flare has for the second year running earned herself a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup. The Graeme Begg -trained mare won her way into the 2022 Melbourne Cup via victory in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) last October, only to be ruled out of the Cup by Racing… Read More »
Luke Pepper’s bold decision to tackle the tougher of two stakes races with Opal Ridge has been rewarded with the filly posting a brilliant victory in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone. Pepper could have kept the three-year-old to her own age and sex in the Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m)… Read More »
It’sourtime has provided trainer Danny O’Brien with the perfect birthday gift taking out the Listed Straight Six at Flemington. The victory in the 1200m race on Saturday made up for the disappointment of connections after the sprinter was a late scratching from the Listed Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool on the middle day of… Read More »
Beautifully bred filly Hip Hip Hoorah has kept her unbeaten record intact and earned some valuable black-type in the process with a fighting win in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone. Raced by Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock, Hip Hip Hurrah is a homebred by super sire Snitzel out of… Read More »
Ken and Kasey Keys are looking at the bigger picture with their decision to take Scheelite to Flemington for his second race start. A debut winner at Sandown on April 29, Scheelite runs in the Parade Lounge Sprint (1200m) on Saturday as a prelude to potentially bigger targets during the spring. The… Read More »
Evergreen sprinter Eduardo won’t chase a second Doomben 10,000 crown with trainer Joe Pride deciding to wait for another day rather than start him from an outside gate in the high-pressure race. An on-speed runner, Eduardo came up with barrier 11 at Wednesday’s draw, directly outside the pacy Overpass while… Read More »
Dan Morton did not get to enjoy the success he felt Harpoon was capable of, which has only added to the satisfaction he is deriving from the achievements of She’s Fit. The three-year-old daughter of Pride Of Dubai, who is favourite for this Saturday’s $500,000 Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at… Read More »
Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock had contemplated sending Aberfeldie Boy to Brisbane for a lead-up race to the Queensland Derby. But the logistics of getting the three-year-old north did not suit, so instead Aberfeldie Boy will head to Adelaide for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday. While Aberfeldie Boy… Read More »
Aside from the fact he can now call himself a Group One-winning trainer, Clayton Douglas says Giga Kick’s breakthrough All Aged Stakes success has also allowed him some subtle shifts in mindset. Having officially ticked the Group 1 box, Douglas can now take the horse to Saturday’s Doomben 10,000 (1200m)… Read More »
Sometimes in racing events are beyond your control. That is what transpired for White Marlin who was beaten for the first time in his seven-start career at Pakenham on April 27. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained stayer will be out to rebound off that defeat in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on… Read More »
He resumed in great order with a slashing win in the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on the weekend and the Joseph Pride-trained Think About It will now head up north to tackle the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap. Boasting an impeccable record of seven wins from… Read More »
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will attempt to extend their Group 1 winning run in Adelaide with two runners in the South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville. Four Group 1 races are run in Adelaide each season and already this year Maher and Eustace have collected the Australasian Oaks with Affaire A Suivre and the Robert… Read More »
Mick Price is aware of his tendency to get overly-ambitious when a member of his team indicates above-average ability, but it is unlikely to stop him doing similar with Globe. The untapped Charm Spirit four-year-old added another picket to the fence he has formed to start his career when he demolished… Read More »
